Study Design in Etiologic Research

This course is a core component of any Master´s degree in Epidemiology, and is also key to being able to follow specialized courses in epidemiology. Its aim is for you to learn about the principles and practice of cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies. We will discuss design, data collection and outcome measures, as well as the major advantages and disadvantages of the different study designs. The emphasis will be on the application of study design in etiologic research.

This online medical course focuses on the more classical approach but also addresses modern concepts and design options, such as case-cohort designs. Various other study designs will also be discussed, with an emphasis on validity issues.

Study Design in Etiologic Research is part of MSc Epidemiology Postgraduate Online; the online MSc program in Epidemiology offered by Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, MSc Epidemiology and Elevate Health

Explain the principles, design and validity aspects of a cohort study, a case-control study and a cross-sectional study

Interpret the measures of frequency and association from cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies

In particular, you should be able to:

Calculate the corresponding measures of frequency and association, and explain these calculations

Explain the modern designs used instead of the classical case-control study (e.g. case-cohort study or case-crossover study)

Explain the methods of data collection in the different study designs

Explain the specific aspects of study design in veterinary epidemiology as compared to human epidemiology (e.g. clustering of animals and the effects this has on study design, measurement of exposure status, disease status and confounders, and the selection of the study population)

Appraise scientific abstracts and papers on the choice of study design, and debate the relevant validity aspects

Design an appropriate study to be used in a specific situation or to answer an etiologic study question

This course includes an exam with essay questions, which is the only part of the course that is not online.

Exam November 2017

The exam will take place on November 27th, 2017. The date for the re-examination has currently not been set.

Exam March 2018

The exam will take place on April 30th, 2018. The re-examination will take place on June 4th, 2018.

If you are able and willing to take the exam in Utrecht, the Netherlands, we are available to proctor the exam for you without any costs. If you have to take the exam from a different location, you need a proctor. This proctor may ask you to pay for their expenses. Please read more about proctoring on our specific webpage.

The exam is not compulsory. However, if you want to receive the Course Certificate and the credits, it is obligatory to take the exam. You are allowed to redo the exam once.

As this is a university course, it is covered by academic accreditation. Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a recognized certificate from Utrecht University and the UMC Utrecht.